Gray color · CSS named color
Dark Gray Color Code: #A9A9A9
Dark Gray is a medium-light gray color with the hexadecimal value #A9A9A9. In RGB it is 169, 169, 169 and in HSL it is 0°, 0%, 66%. Black text reads best on it (8.93:1 contrast).
Also spelled “Dark Grey”.
Dark Gray color values
#A9A9A9
rgb(169, 169, 169)
hsl(0, 0%, 66%)
0, 0%, 66%
hwb(0 66% 34%)
0%, 0%, 0%, 34%
11119017
darkgray
CMYK is a standard screen-to-print conversion. Printed results depend on inks, paper and color profiles.
What is Dark Gray?
Dark Gray is one of the named colors defined by the CSS Color specifications (keyword “darkgray”), so every modern browser understands it without a hex code.
Its saturation is only 0%, so it behaves as a neutral, with 0% saturation (nearly neutral) and 66% lightness (medium-light). It has a neutral temperature.
Compared with the other gray colors in the Aqeeb Studio library, it is lighter than 83% of them and more saturated than 0% of them.
Its relative luminance is 0.397, which makes it a light color. That is above the 0.179 crossover point at which black and white text have equal contrast, so black text has the advantage.
Dark Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 66% and its relative luminance is 0.397. Black text reads best on it (8.93:1 contrast).
Text contrast on Dark Gray
| Text | Preview | Ratio | AA normal | AA large | AAA normal | AAA large |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White text | Sample text | 2.35:1 Poor | Fail | Fail | Fail | Fail |
| Black text | Sample text | 8.93:1 Excellent | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Ratios use the WCAG 2 formula and are truncated, never rounded up. Test any pair with the contrast checker.
Colors that go with Dark Gray
Complementary color
Complementary colors sit directly opposite each other on the color wheel (180° apart). They give the strongest hue contrast, which suits calls to action and accents.
Analogous colors
Analogous colors are neighbors on the wheel, 30° either side of the base hue. They blend smoothly and are easy to combine in backgrounds, gradients and illustrations.
Triadic colors
A triadic scheme uses three hues spaced 120° apart. It is lively yet balanced, and works best when one color leads and the other two act as accents.
Split-complementary colors
Split-complementary keeps the base color and uses the two colors on either side of its complement (150° and 210°). The contrast is strong but gentler than a direct complement.
Tetradic colors
A tetradic (rectangle) scheme combines two complementary pairs at 0°, 60°, 180° and 240°. It offers variety but needs one dominant color to stay balanced.
Monochromatic variants
Monochromatic variants keep the same hue and saturation and only change lightness, which makes them dependable for UI scales and subtle layered designs.
A “≈” before a name means the exact harmony color has no named match, so the link goes to the closest named color.
Tints and shades of Dark Gray
Lighter tints (mixed with white)
Darker shades (mixed with black)
Select any swatch to copy its HEX code. Build longer scales with the tints and shades tool.
Similar colors
Where to use Dark Gray
- Card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (8.93:1 contrast with black)
- Calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements
- Tables, cards and dashboards
- Body text, borders and dividers
- Secondary buttons and disabled states
- Neutral page backgrounds
Dark Gray appears in these curated palettes: Dusty Taupe (Neutral Color Palettes), Greige (Neutral Color Palettes).
Use Dark Gray in CSS
:root {
--color-dark-gray: #A9A9A9;
}
.element {
color: var(--color-dark-gray);
background-color: #A9A9A9;
border: 2px solid #A9A9A9;
}Questions about Dark Gray
What is the HEX code for Dark Gray?
Dark Gray is #A9A9A9.
What is the RGB value of Dark Gray?
The RGB value of Dark Gray is 169, 169, 169: 169 red, 169 green and 169 blue on a 0–255 scale, written rgb(169, 169, 169) in CSS.
What is the HSL value of Dark Gray?
The HSL value of Dark Gray is 0°, 0%, 66% (hue, saturation, lightness), written hsl(0, 0%, 66%) in CSS.
What is the CMYK value of Dark Gray?
A standard conversion gives about C 0%, M 0%, Y 0%, K 34%. Real print results depend on the inks, paper and color profile, so treat CMYK here as a reference value.
Is Dark Gray a light or dark color?
Dark Gray counts as a light color: its HSL lightness is 66% and its relative luminance is 0.397. Black text reads best on it (8.93:1 contrast).
How does Dark Gray look with white text?
White text on Dark Gray has a contrast ratio of 2.35:1, rated Poor. It falls below the WCAG minimum for text.
How does Dark Gray look with black text?
Black text on Dark Gray has a contrast ratio of 8.93:1, rated Excellent. It meets WCAG AA for normal text.
What colors go well with Dark Gray?
Cool Gray is its complementary color, and Cool Gray sits beside it as an analogous color. Lighter and darker variants of the same hue also work well for monochromatic palettes.
Where can Dark Gray be used?
It suits card, highlight and section backgrounds with dark text (8.93:1 contrast with black); calm backgrounds, editorial layouts and understated UI elements; tables, cards and dashboards.
How do I use Dark Gray in CSS?
Use color: #A9A9A9; for text, background-color: #A9A9A9; for fills, or define a custom property such as --color-dark-gray: #A9A9A9; and reuse it with var(--color-dark-gray).
About this color page
CSS named color (W3C CSS Color Module). Values are calculated from the HEX code; color names are labels, not trademarks or standards unless stated. Screens render colors differently, so always check important colors on your own device. See the disclaimer.